Senator Chiz Escudero. ARNOLD ALMACEN/INQUIRER
MANILA, Philippines—Why is Justice Secretary Leila de Lima lawyering for Janet Lim-Napoles?
This question was raised Friday by Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, whose name was listed by Napoles as among those allegedly involved in the “pork” barrel” scam.
Escudero specifically noted how De Lima personally went to the Senate to submit the list when it should have been done by Napoles’ lawyers.
He said it is not for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to submit the list and affidavit of the suspected “pork” mastermind to the Senate and “to act as if she is the lawyer of Napoles.”
“A good question for Sec. De Lima maybe, do they have a deal? Why is she acting (as Napoles’) lawyer and going to the vetting of the affidavit, drafting the affidavit, typing the affidavit?” Escudero said in an interview on ABS-CBN News.
“It should be the lawyers’ draft. Is (Napoles) now under the WPP (Witness Protection Program), is she now a state witness?” he said.
Escudero said Napoles simply gave De Lima and rehabilitation czar Panfilo “Ping” Lacson separate copies of the lists but the two officials had no personal knowledge of the controversial funneling of congressional funds into bogus foundations of Napoles.
“I think the affidavit should be submitted as is. And I don’t think she (De Lima) should let Napoles use her,” he said.
“It’s not DOJ’s job to verify it. Whatever it is you have right now, let her lawyer submit it to the Senate…,” Escudero said.
Escudero again urged the Senate to continue its hearing on the “pork” controversy and called Napoles, De Lima, Lacson, Benhur Luy and Sandra Cam to testify on the lists that they have.
De Lima and Lacson’s lists both came from Napoles while Luy and Cam reportedly have separate lists of the personalities allegedly involved in the P10-billion “pork” scandal.
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